The recent events concerning Bishop Brian Tamaki and Shaykh Dr Mohammad Anwar Sahib have provided a natural experiment in hate, and the response to it. Both religious leaders had videos exposed of them preaching objectionable material. Below is a side-by-side comparison of the speeches and responses. What conclusions do you draw?

What was said?

Bishop Tamaki said that homosexuals were sinners and suggested that their sin causes earthquakes like the one New Zealand recently experienced.

Shaykh Anwar said that Jews were the enemy of Muslims and women should not leave the house without their husbands’ permission.

Bish Brian wants Chris Brown to come to New Zealand so he can tell his congregation how he’s overcome his babe bashing ways.

Tamaki joins the likes of Dame Tariana Turia and Tainui leaders in supporting Brown’s visit, believing he is a changed man who can help spread a positive message against domestic violence.

In a short video released to media (above), Tamaki refers to Brown’s offences as “so-called violence” and emphasises the need for accepting people’s mistakes.

“All of us make those mistakes – and with Chris Brown, I believe he should be given the opportunity to prove that he has reformed or begun the process [of reform],” says Tamaki.

“We talk about reforming people’s lives – especially from this type of domestic violence. How can they get an opportunity to believe that they can change to be better people if society continually berates them and shuts the door on them.

“I am one here now that supports the actual fact of Chris Brown coming. After all, we’ve got nothing to lose – except that maybe it could turn out to be the right choice; and that he does prove that he can do it.”

“so-called” violence eh? Just like you are a “so-called” man of God, I suppose? Read more »

The New Zealand media is shocked at the ignorance and prejudice of Brian Tamaki towards Gay people but as usual ignore the much worse reality of Islam, a ‘ religion ‘ that even in today’s modern day and age actually murders and executes people for being gay. I would love to see a New Zealand reporter actually go and ask the hard questions about homosexuals of a New Zealand Islamic leader or a Principal of a New Zealand Islamic school. No one wants to ask the questions because they know that they won’t like the answers.

Brian Tamaki might be intolerant ( that wonderful politically correct word ) but he is not advocating that gay people be executed or murdered. When Gay, liberal men defend Islam or talk about it being a religion of peace I want to scream.

Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki has launched an astonishing attack on the gay community.

He’s blasted what he calls “gay power”, and says it’s the biggest problem facing the world. Mr Tamaki warned his followers of an entire generation of children being bisexual, saying the perversion of homosexuality is leading the charge.

Mr Tamaki said he’s shocked in particular at the decision to endorse gay marriage in Ireland.

And he’s warned of an entire generation of children who’ll be bisexual, saying the perversion of homosexuality is leading the charge.

Green MP Jan Logie said it’s an astonishing attack.

“I speak for myself when I say I find it offensive that my identity as a person and who I am is being described as something that is open to influence by political whim.”

Jan Logie said it’s a warped view if the love between two people is being described as the biggest problem facing the world.

“He seems to be reverting to messages of hate as a way of trying to gain support for his own mission.”

Someone suggested to me some time ago that I should turn Whaleoil into a charity, possibly even a church. It would have enormous benefits. Although I appreciated the joke, it’s not something I could ever do and look at myself in the mirror. Charities and churches have a special place in society, and this is recognised by the state going easy on them when it comes to taxes.

But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t ‘charities’ that pay out 2 cents in the dollar while the principals live the life of Riley.

Destiny Church do many good things. The cost has always been the ostentatious lifestyle the poor fund through their tithes. It’s a lose/lose proposition to try and tear it apart, as you will also destroy the good that is being done.

However, rules are rules, and by the time accountability to the public disappears, it is time for the appropriate government agencies to crawl up Destiny and its affiliated charities with a financial proctology instrument.

Destiny Church bought five cars – including a luxury Audi – through one of its charities that is more than a year overdue in filing an annual return.

Financing statements filed with the Companies Office show Te Hahi o Nga Matamua Holdings Ltd bought a new Audi Q7 valued at $100,000, to be used by church leaders Brian and Hannah Tamaki, on a lease purchase arrangement.

The charity, which last filed an annual return in 2012, also bought four Toyota Aurion Sportivo SX6 3.5s valued at $27,990 each.

According to the Charities Register, the charity’s main purpose is for community development, religious activities and fundraising. Read more »

Churches, charities and societies are excellent devices for personal empire building, and in the New Zealand environment not filing your returns on time, accurately, or – to be frank – at all, has really had very little backlash.

If it wasn’t for our series by Owl, a few unions would still not be filing theirs.

Now it seems Brian Tamaki wants to obfuscate the money trail rather than explain to the New Zealand public how much he got and what he’s doing with it.

Controversial Destiny Church has been issued overdue notices after 14 affiliated charities are late filing their annual returns.

The church’s tax-exempt status is under the microscope after the late filing. Previous returns from the charities totalled several million dollars.

Six Destiny-affiliated charities, which received a combined $5.5m in donations in the most recent returns, are more than a year overdue in filing statements with the public charities register.

During the same period, Bishop Brian Tamaki has repeatedly asked churchgoers to donate to pay for the church’s new multi-million-dollar City of God in Manukau.

When unveiling plans for Destiny’s City of God in 2012, Tamaki said: “I don’t care what the media say, I don’t care what your relatives say, I don’t care what the world says, nobody should be not tithing.”

An Internal Affairs spokeswoman said they were actively seeking overdue annual returns from a number of charities associated with the Destiny Church.

Charities could be deregistered if they “significantly and persistently” failed to comply with the Charities Act.

14 affiliated charities not filing returns is obviously the outcome of something deliberate. It’s not like one or two are tardy. Incorporated societies and charities have been taking the tax payer for a ride for… for ever. I for one welcome any moves to throw some sunlight on it. Read more »

How much do you like courgettes? According to one Facebook page devoted to them, hundreds of people find them delightful enough to click the “like” button – even with dozens of other pages about courgettes to choose from.

There’s just one problem: the liking was fake, done by a team of low-paid workers in Dhaka, Bangladesh, whose boss demanded just $15 per thousand “likes” at his “click farm”. Workers punching the keys might be on a three-shift system, and be paid as little as $120 a year.

The ease with which a humble vegetable could win approval calls into question the basis on which many modern companies measure success online – through Facebook likes, YouTube video views and Twitter followers. Read more »